Antibiotics are medications that help your body fight off infection. Although there are several different classes of antibiotics, these medicines all work by killing bacteria. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics for an infection in your respiratory tract, digestive system, kidneys or bladder, or in another organ system. Consuming probiotic foods may help protect your from gastrointestinal problems that sometimes develop while your are taking antibiotics. Consult your doctor to discuss whether adding probiotics to your diet is a good strategy for you.
Antibiotic-Associated Diarrhea
Antibiotics are designed to kill bacteria and, since you usually take these medications by mouth, they may also kill some of the beneficial bacteria that live in your intestines. After several days, taking antibiotics may result in diarrhea, characterized by watery bowel movements that occur frequently. The Mayo Clinic lists cephalosporins, erythromycin, penicillin, quinolones and tetracyclines as the types of antibiotics most likely to cause gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea. Consuming probiotic foods or taking probiotic supplements may help you avoid these problems.
Probiotics
Any food that contains live cultures of bacteria similar or identical to the species that normally live in your intestines is a probiotic food. When consumed, these foods help repopulate the colonies possibly damaged when you take an antibiotic. Each probiotic food usually contains a single type of bacteria, and these differ from one food to another. Because there are many species of bacteria in your digestive system, a good strategy is to consume several different probiotic foods while you are taking antibiotics.
Probiotic Foods
Dairy products such as yogurt or kefir, a fermented drink made form cow, goat or sheep's milk, are excellent probiotic foods. Kefir is especially good if you are lactose intolerant because the fermentation breaks down lactose in the milk. Other probiotic foods include fermented cabbage dishes such as sauerkraut or Korean kimchi and fermented soybean products such as miso, tempeh or natto. When using these foods, do not subject them to high heat because this will kill the beneficial bacteria. Instead, consume them at room temperature or add them to other preheated ingredients to warm gently.
Supplements
Probiotic supplements are also available from health food stores as capsules or tablets. These supplements are generally considered safe; however, they contain various strains of bacteria, and all types might not be useful for your situation. Consult a practitioner experienced with probiotics to identify the best choice for you. Add these supplements or probiotic foods to your diet gradually as they may cause some initial gas and bloating.
